City Hall is abuzz with activity as Lakeland's staff have dedicated meetings to review the major task ahead: setting the city's next budget before the 2025 fiscal year begins on Oct. 1.

At the first budget workshop in July, the City Commission informally voted 6-1 to raise the maximum advertised property tax rate from 5.4323 to 6.0529 mills per every $1,000 of appraised property value.

In the second workshop on Monday, Aug. 12, commissioners decided instead to consider two budget scenarios: one raising the millage rate to the 2018 rate of 5.5644 mills, and another raising it to 5.62 mills. Regardless of which rate is chosen, Lakeland will have the third-lowest millage rate of all Polk County municipalities. It currently has the second-lowest.

Why is the City Commission eyeing an increase? According to a press release, "The City of Lakeland is feeling the same pinch in the wallet as our citizens with increased cost for goods over the past several years." In addition to routine expenditures, the proposed budget currently includes new police officer + firefighter positions, plus funding for the Police Athletic League's new building, a proposed senior center, and local arts programs.

Mark your calendar for the formal budget hearings on Thursday, Sept. 5 and Thursday, Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. to share your thoughts with commissioners. You can also watch any budget workshops you missed.